Commodore (India)

Commodore is a one-star rank in the Indian Navy. Commodore ranks above the rank of captain and below the two-star rank of rear admiral. This navy rank will be abbreviated as CMDE or Cmde.

Commodore
Flag of a commodore
Rank insignia of a commodore
Country	India
Service branch	Indian Navy
Abbreviation	Cmde
Rank	One-star rank
Next higher rank	Rear admiral
Next lower rank	Captain
Equivalent ranks	Brigadier (Indian Army) Air commodore (Indian Air Force)

The equivalent rank in the Indian Army is brigadier and in the Indian Air Force is air commodore.

Cmde PG Pyunumootil in a commodore's uniform.

History

After the Independence of India, Captain Ajitendu Chakraverti was the first Indian to be promoted to the rank of commodore, when he took over as the officiating Chief of Staff at Naval Headquarters.^[1]

Appointments

Officers in the rank of commodore hold important appointments like Commodore Commanding Submarines (COMCOS). The command and control of all submarines with the Western and Eastern Naval Commands resides with the COMCOS. The COMCOS (West) and COMCOS (East) report into the FOC-in-C of their respective commands. Officers in the rank of commodore serve as commanding officers of shore establishments like INS Hansa, INS Shivaji, etc. Commodores also fill appointments of naval officer-in-charge (NOIC) of naval areas. The naval attachés and naval advisors at India's high commissions and embassies in select countries are officers of the rank of commodore.^[2][3][4] At Naval headquarters, commodores hold the appointments of principal directors of directorates and branches.

Insignia

The flag of a vice admiral has a gold-blue octagon bearing naval crest in the middle, and a blue star at hoist side. The badge of rank consists of a band of gold lace, with a circle of lace above. A commodore wears gorget patches which are golden patches with one white star. In addition to this, the double-breasted reefer jacket has one broad golden sleeve stripe with a circle above.

Pay scale

Commodores are at pay level 13A, with a monthly basic pay between ₹139,600 (US$1,700) and ₹217,600 (US$2,600) with a monthly service pay of ₹15,500 (US$180).^[5][6][7]

Famous Indian commodores

• Arogyaswami Paulraj - Electrical engineer and inventor

See also

• Naval ranks and insignia of India